Orlando Pirates news: Makola, Memela sign contract extensions

The Buccaneers have taken a firmer grip on their key attacking midfielders.

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 19: Luvuyo Memela of Orlando Pirates with possession during the Absa Premiership match between Orlando Pirates and Chippa United at Orlando Stadium on August 19, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images)

Orlando Pirates have extended the contracts of first team midfielders Luvuyo Memela and Mpho Makola for a further year until June 2019.

The club’s administrative officer Floyd Mbele confirmed on Monday via a statement that the Buccaneers have exercised an extension clause in the duo’s respective contracts.

“I can confirm that the club has triggered the extension clauses of both Memela and Makola for another season,” Mbele said.

Memela starred in Pirates’ 3-1 victory over Baroka FC on Saturday night as he netted a brace to hand his team their fifth win of the season as they scored three goals in a match for the first time in the current campaign, starting the year off on a high.

The 30-year old joined the club from first division side Cape Town All Stars in the lead-up to the 2015/16 season and made just 18 appearances in that particular campaign, scoring five times. He has featured a further 30 times for the side and his two goals over the weekend took his total goal tally in top flight football to eight in all competitions.

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Makola (31) on the other hand has suffered a dip in form is yet to find the net in the current league campaign and was completely left out of the matchday squad for the fixture against Baroka. His solitary goal this season came in the Telkom Knockout against Polokwane City, in a game that finished 2-2 after extra time before Pirates crashed out in the penalty shootout.

He has been plying his trade for the “Sea Robbers” for close to six years since moving from Free State Stars in 2012.

Another player who signed a contract extension is Gift Motupa who is currently on loan at Baroka where he has found the net five times in 11 league appearances this season, more than any other Pirates player.